Unmanned Systems

ORLANDO, FL -- The Skyborg program wont produce the hyped vision of a weaponized, loyal wingman right away, but will instead introduce advanced technology in cycles, allowing the system to take on more complex mission sets over time that could eventually run like applications on an iPhone, according to Air Force officials.

The Pentagon is reviewing its bedrock policy governing how the U.S. military approaches autonomy in weapon systems, as defense officials say the directive may be outdated due to advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The Air Force is moving forward with a contracting solution worth up to $490 million for research and development of capabilities that can combat commercial off-the-shelf small unmanned aerial systems.

The Navy's fiscal year 2021 budget request lays out a detailed acquisition plan for the service's Large Unmanned Surface Vessel, beginning with an anticipated delay for an early solicitation this year and culminating with the first vehicle being delivered in FY-26.

The Air Force's $168.9 billion fiscal year 2021 budget request proposes a $4.1 billion realignment across the future years defense program to fund increases in future air and space dominance capabilities through cuts to legacy bombers and tankers, Block 20 and 30 Global Hawks, Guard and Reserve Component A-10s and planned missile procurements. (UPDATED)

The Air Force's $168.9 billion fiscal year 2021 budget request proposes a $4.1 billion realignment across the future years defense program to fund increases in future air and space dominance capabilities through cuts to legacy bombers and tankers, Block 20 and 30 Global Hawks, Guard and Reserve Component A-10s and planned missile procurements.

The Pentagon's chief weapons testers say both they and the Navy have assessed a new unmanned aircraft as "not operationally effective, not operationally suitable, and not cyber survivable," and have revealed the service created a "Tiger Team" to fix those issues.

Huntington Ingalls Industries said today it has agreed to acquire Hydroid, which provides advanced marine robotics to the defense and maritime markets, in a $350 million deal.

Pentagon officials will meet with industry this spring to discuss a wide range of autonomous system developments in the coming years, according to a public notice which sheds more light on how Defense Department officials envision pairing machines and humans on the battlefield.